Second victim dies of injuries in Saturday crash 07-20-05

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

An 81-year-old woman died Tuesday (July 19, 2005) of injuries she suffered in a two-vehicle collision on Saturday at the intersection of Mohouli Street and Kukuau Street in Hilo.

The victim was identified as Bessie Tatsuno, of a Hilo address.

Tatsuno died at 9:30 a.m. in Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

She was a passenger in a 1989 Toyota four-door sedan being driven by Yasuko Tatsuno, 75, who also died of her injuries.

Responding to an 11:01 a.m. call, South Hilo patrol officers determined that Yasuko Tatsuno was driving the Toyota south on Kukuau Street when she ran a stop sign and collided with 1998 Dodge pickup truck traveling west on Mohouli Street. The impact knocked the truck over.

The driver of the truck, Michael Ignacio, 59, and his 17-year-old son were taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

Yasuko Tatsuno was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m. at the hospital.

An investigation determined that all parties involved were wearing their seatbelts.

Speed and alcohol are not considered factors in this crash. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Mohouli Street was closed to traffic for about two and a half hours as officers documented the scene. It was reopened to traffic at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s death was the 19th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 25 at the same time last year.

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